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Indiana Basketball: Indiana Hoosiers 2015-16 Season Preview

By Hashim R. Hathaway

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Indiana Hoosiers

2014-2015 Record: 20-14 (9-9, Big Ten)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament – Second Round

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Last year’s Indiana Hoosiers squad proved to be a mixed bag, and that’s putting it nicely. Finishing a mediocre year featuring a seventh place finish in the Big Ten, the 20-14 Hoosiers were considered a bubble team at best for the NCAA Tournament, especially after being unable to escape the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Many in Hoosier Nation thought the rope had tightened around head coach Tom Crean’s neck, but surprisingly, the Hoosiers received a #10 seed in the Midwest region, where they would be knocked out by #7 Wichita State in the second round.

After an offseason filled with numerous departures, some under a cloud, the Hoosiers look for a complete reversal of fortune with the addition of vaunted recruit Thomas Bryant, a 6-10 forward from Huntington (W.Va) Prep. Also joining the effort for the Hoosiers is Michigan grad transfer Max Biefeldt a 6-8 forward who brings experience and size to help in the front court.

On the coaching front, Director of Basketball Operations Rob Judson received a promotion to assistant coach after longtime assistant Steve McClain took the head coaching job at University of Illinois-Chicago.

Despite the changes, departures and additions, the media is bullish on the Hoosiers, with top 25 preseason rankings from a number of publications. Whether or not that holds up depends on how the Hoosiers transition from yet another cream puff non-conference schedule to a Big Ten schedule that promises to provide significant challenges to an eternally young roster.

Newcomers

G – Max Bielfeldt (graduate transfer from Michigan)
F – Thomas Bryant (#20 ESPN100)
G – Juwan Morgan (#100 247Sports Composite)
G – O.G. Anunoby (#280 247Sports Composite)
G – Harrison Niego (walk-on)

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov. 23-26 at Maui Invitational – After a trio of relatively weak opponents in the form of Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay and Creighton, the Hoosiers hope to get their first test of the season at the Maui Invitational. The Hoosiers open against a Wake Forest squad that features five returning seniors, compared to Indiana’s only senior in Yogi Ferrell. Despite their age and experience, the Demon Deacons had a lackluster 2014-15 season under rookie coach Danny Manning, so they don’t look to offer much of a challenge against the Hoosiers. The second round features either Vanderbilt or St. Johns with newly-minted head coach Chris Mullin.

Dec. 2 vs Duke – Crean and the Hoosiers will have their hands full as they travel to Tobacco Road to visit the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. While Duke is without powerhouses Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow, Coach K never leaves his cupboards bare as he adds four five-star recruits (Luke Kennard, Chase Jeter, Derryck Thornton and Brandon Ingram) that will likely give the Hoosiers fits. A Hoosier win at Cameron is a tall order, but if they pull it out, a top five ranking could be waiting.

Dec. 19 vs Notre Dame – The Hoosiers and Fighting Irish square off in the fifth annual Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. In their last meeting, the Irish shocked Indiana 79-72, but this season the Irish are without Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, which could provide opportunities for the Hoosiers to return home to Bloomington with a win.

Key Players

Yogi Ferrell – The undisputed leader of the Hoosiers going in to his senior year, Ferrell is coming off a solid junior year that had some wondering if he’d forgo senior year to enter the NBA draft. Racking up a number of accolades during the season, including scoring his 1,000th point and leading the team in both points and assists two years running (the first since Isiah Thomas), Yogi enters this season as the Hoosiers’ most reliable player, and the key to any success they hope to have. When Yogi is playing smart basketball, the Hoosiers do very well, but his tendency to want to do too much can also cost the team in big situations. Key offseason additions and a healthy James Blackmon, Jr. should help Yogi close his college career on a high note.

James Blackmon, Jr. – What started as a promising season for Blackmon turned into a mixed bag as injuries began to take a toll in the second half of the season. Despite his ailments, Blackmon was a weapon for the Hoosiers, averaging 15.7 points a game, which was sixth overall among freshmen nationwide. The Hoosiers will need Blackmon’s prowess from behind the arc if they’re going to live up to expectations this season.

Thomas Bryant – This is the player the Hoosiers have been waiting for. Not since losing Cody Zeller to the NBA draft two seasons ago have the Hoosiers had a true threat at the low post. At 6-10, 240 lbs, Bryant has the size and presence to make a real difference on defense, while creating second chance scoring opportunities that eluded the Hoosiers the previous couple years. As a freshman, it’s hard to say how well he’ll hold up during the always-physical Big Ten season, but the Hoosiers are betting the house that he’s the answer down low.

Season Outlook

Going into his eighth season as head coach, the 2015-16 campaign is make-or-break for Tom Crean. The Hoosiers seem to be stuck in perpetual rebuilding mode with the only highlight being a Big Ten regular season championship in 2012-13. Since then the team hasn’t finished higher than seventh in the Big Ten. The additions of Bryant and Bielfeldt hope to be the shot in the arm the Hoosiers need to not only get to the NCAA Tournament, but advance beyond the Sweet Sixteen.

The Hoosiers have the opportunity to benefit from yet another soft non-conference schedule that features the likes of Austin Peay, Morehead State and Kennesaw State. Another huge benefit for the Hoosiers is that they only have to face Big Ten heavyweights Michigan State and Maryland only once. If everything goes as well as hoped, the Hoosiers can expect to win 23-25 games with a second or third place finish in the Big Ten, more than enough to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and secure a 10th season for Tom Crean.

Next: Big Ten Season Preview

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